D.A. Needs More Time on Bryant Case

Prosecutors need more time before deciding whether to bring charges against Kobe Bryant, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a resort near Vail last week.

"Sometimes it takes awhile to get through everything," Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said Monday. "It may be beyond the end of the week."

He said Bryant might not be charged at all, but he refused to discuss details of the allegations against the five-time NBA All-Star.

Bryant's lawyer, Pamela Mackey, said the Los Angeles Lakers' guard "expects to be completely exonerated," and she accused the sheriff's office of rushing the case against the advice of prosecutors.

According to an arrest warrant, the 24-year-old Bryant attacked a woman June 30. Authorities said only that it happened at a hotel. Officials at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards said Bryant stayed there June 30-July 2.

Under Colorado law, sexual assault could range from fondling to rape.

The accusations against one of the NBA's biggest stars made headlines nationwide and stunned the sports world. Dozens of reporters and camera crews descended on this mountain town about 100 miles west of Denver.

Since entering the NBA straight from high school, Bryant has drawn comparisons to the league's greatest players ever. He was married in 2001 and became a father earlier this year.

Bryant surrendered to authorities Friday and was released after posting $25,000 bond. Mackey said her client had been in Colorado for surgery on his right knee at Vail's Steadman Hawkins Clinic.

Mackey accused the sheriff's office of "complete bias," saying it ignored the wishes of the district attorney in obtaining the arrest warrant.

"We were told that the matter was under consideration by the district attorney's office but that there was insufficient information to issue a warrant or to file charges," she said in a statement.

"What's done is done," said Hurlbert, standing a few feet away from Sheriff Joe Hoy, whose office is leading the investigation. "I'm not going to comment on whether it was prudent or not. A judge found probable cause."

The sheriff's office sought the arrest warrant from a judge instead of making the request through the district attorney, which is the usual practice. Only the district attorney's office can file charges.

Hoy said his investigators learned of the case July 1 and spent nearly 30 hours on the case before contacting Bryant. Defense attorneys were notified on July 3 and Bryant returned to Colorado the next day, sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Andree said.

"There wasn't any urgency. We felt we were doing the right thing for everyone involved," Hoy said. "We wanted to give people the time to themselves to adjust" because of the holiday.

Hurlbert said he talked to the woman, who "seems to be doing OK considering the circumstances."

The case against Bryant unfolded as details of two other NBA players' legal troubles were released.

Orlando Magic guard Darrell Armstrong was arrested after being accused of fighting with a female police officer outside a Florida nightclub, and Portland Trail Blazers' Damon Stoudamire was accused of trying to pass through an airport metal detector with marijuana.

Bryant helped lead Los Angeles to three consecutive titles from 2000-02 and he was the MVP of the 2002 All-Star game.

Along with his determination, Bryant has often shown the dignity and heart many fans feel are missing from other NBA stars.

When the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio in May, Bryant wiped away tears as he left the court. "I hate this feeling, I don't ever want to feel it again," he said.

He married Vanessa Laine in April 2001. The two met on the set of a music video where Laine was working and got engaged while she was still in high school. Vanessa gave birth to their first child, Natalia Diamante Bryant, in January. Bryant wore his hospital ID bracelet in a game the day after his daughter was born.

Bryant speaks fluent Italian and has a camera friendly smile that's helped him land television advertising campaigns. Last month, he signed an endorsement deal with Nike.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the allegations were completely out of character for Bryant.

Former teammate Cedric Ceballos said he was shocked when he heard the news, thinking, "This can't happen to him."

David Carter, head of The Sports Business Group, said Bryant has a rare global appeal for marketers, but that the case could certainly hurt his image.

Carter also was surprised that a player with such a clean image off the court was at the center of the accusations.

"This reminded me of Magic Johnson's AIDS announcement, knocked the wind out of everybody," Carter said. "While this is still speculation, there's the connection to the Lakers and the same feeling around town."